Project Summary

Scotland Road, from its northern border with Orange to South Orange Avenue, will undergo a complete renovation starting in late spring of 2020. This comprehensive renovation will replace the water main along the entire road, add additional and replace some of street lighting, new paving, ADA upgrades, and several traffic safety improvements.

Latest Project Update 10/31/2020

The Village sincerely apologizes and understands the frustration and difficulties you have had to deal with over the past 6 months of construction on Scotland Road. We know it has not been easy and appreciate your patience while we move forward with the improvements. Throughout this process the Village has had numerous complications which have resulted in setbacks forcing unexpected changes and project delays which now will continue into the future. 

The Current Timeline of Work (Weather Dependent)

•    September 21 – 23: Milling (3 worth of work)

•    September 26 – 29  Manhole Prep (2 days of work)

•   October 31 - November 4: UPDATE: Scotland Road Paving - The County's Contractor is preparing the street for paving today, October 31st. The paving will take 2 days and begin on Monday November 2nd. The work will start at 7am and will continue until 4pm. Work will not be done on Tuesday November 3rd, because of Election Day. The second day of paving will be on Wednesday November 4th and will also run from 7am to 4pm.

•    November 9 – 13: Raised Table Installation and Stripping 

•    November 30 – December 23: PSEG will be installing 33 LED Gaslamp look-alikes and removing 17 interblock cobra street lamps (leaving existing at intersections) and keeping concrete base. 

Regarding the raised intersection at Raymond Avenue, unfortunately, what was discussed and promised was deemed unsafe once the County’s Contractor and Engineer met the Village Administrator and Engineer. The slope of Raymond Avenue is too great to safely add a raised intersection. Understanding the goal of the raised intersection is reducing speeds on Scotland and being able to cross Raymond safely, we came up with an alternative that the Village believes achieves our goals. The Village is requesting that a raised table which would be located approximately 20ft before the crosswalks on either side be installed to create a safer crossing for individuals at the intersection while reducing speeds prior to the crosswalks.  We also requested a third raised table heading towards South Orange Avenue, slightly before Ralston to reduce speeds heading into the curves. Though this is all new, the Village believes it would achieve the goals of reducing speeds and creating a safer crossing. 

Grooved pavement will be installed in the curved area leading up to the South Orange Library on the center line as well as the sides. 

The Village will not be able to move forward with curbing along Scotland Road at this time as requirements of State historic standards have made this piece of the project more cost prohibitive than was budgeted for. Unfortunately, the County does not consider curbing as part of their responsibility for maintenance of the road and so all costs must be borne by the Village. Our proposal to the State to allow the Village to replace the bluestone with a more economical and maintenance friendly option of granite block, though still keeping with the historic look, was denied and the Village must therefore replace with bluestone.  

We have already asked the County to push back the paving piece of this project for one year for the Village to complete the water main project and we must move forward with paving the road. The Village will continue to investigate opportunities to replace the bluestone, though at this time it must be done in a future project.

On a positive note, we have accomplished a great deal of work including replacing almost one mile of 8" cast iron water main circa 1890 with a 12" Ductile Cast Iron with a protective liner that deters sludge and wear, including 60 copper laterals which included curb stops providing greater capacity and distribution. Installed strategically placed inline and intersecting side street valves for improved maintenance ease in the future. This Water project also replaced eight fire hydrants along the road.

Work to begin on October 20, 2020, click here to read the updated information from Essex County.